Airplane fuel tank draining and transferring device



R. J. HENRY 2,376,874 AIRPLANE FUEL TANK DRAINING AND TRANSFERRING.DEVICE May 29, 1945.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1943 R. .1. HENRY May 29, 1945.

AIRPLANE FUEL TANK DRAINING AND TRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed Nov. 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl Dub o o o m llllllllll I/II lfiwflll Inventor #908527 flavey QM v mdpwayfim Patented May 29, 1945 AIRPLANE TANKYDRAINTNMG'AND ,TRANSEERRINGDEVICE-u Robert J. Henry, Hanover, fPa.,'"ass ign or of onehalf to Louis Goldstein, Roxbury, Mass.

Application November 2, i943, Serial No..508,76 3Claims. (o1. 211 155) This invention relatesto a highly useful and practical device especially constructed to serve as a ways and means of expeditiously draining gasoline from the fuel tank of an'airplane and then facilitating its transference and return to a truck tank, said device being appropriately usefulwhen a leak in the fuel tank has been discovered audit is desired to then empty said tank and put. it backin the truck tank or an equivalent storage receiver for subsequent usage.- 1

Pursuant to proper fulfillment of my aim, I have accomplished what is desired through the adoption and use of aportable gasoline-receiving and transferring tanks, the samebeing characterized by a portable structure. having an inclined false bottom forming a gravity chute, an associated screen constituting a battle and minimizing splashing, the structure being further provided with a strainer equipped outlet constructed to accommodate a suction hose leading to thefinal storage or truck tank. r x

Further, and in carrying outmy aim, I have adopted for use atsimple and expedient portable tank construction characterized by strength and durability and embodying a simplified coordination of features coacting in a manner to attain efficient and desired results, whereby to make it of the .tank comprises a pair of parallel side walls 9'and a: rear vertical'wall. l0. Mounted between the side wall is a artition I IV which, as shown in Figure 3, is inclined-downwardly at the proper slope, The flanges .12 are secured to thelintermediate portions of the side walls -'I. This partition is in effect a false bottom and. the frontal horizontal portion l3 functions somewhat as a pan. An endportion of one of said side wallsextends across in front of the pan and forms the front vertical wall [4 and an extension portion l5 thereof forms a partof the top, this part 15 extending-between coacting portions of, the side walls 9, as brought out to advantage in Figure 3. The laterally bent flange I6 from the wall I4 is attachedto the adjacent end portion of the adjacent wall 9. The Walls 9 are also provided with inwardly bent lateral flanges l'l overlying and fastened to the top-forming extension 15. It is possible to completely dispense with the somewhat slow and comparatively primitive bucket system now commonly in vogue.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts' throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofanairplane fuel tank straining and transferring portable tank structure constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a topplan view of the structure seen in Figure l. v

Figure 3 is a central vertical or longitudinal sectional view with certain parts in elevation.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows,

The gasoline-receiving and transferring tank unit is .denoted by the numeral 5, this being removably seated in the angle iron frame of the portable truck 6. This part 6 comprises a frame I made from adjoining angle irons, said frame being provided with self-adjusting casters 8. The top portion of the. tank unit 5 is inclined forwardly and downwardly. The major part or shell chute H.

'ing at one end in L-shaped brackets 23.

perhapsbest that the parts H; Hand l3 be referred to as an insert mounted between predetermined portions of the parallel walls 9 with the innerend of the partitioningpart ll fastened to the int'ermediateportion of theverticalor connective wall [0.

Attached to the upper end of thevertical wall III by suitable hinges I9 is a lid or cover 20. I This closes the open space between the wall It! and the innermost end of theextension l5, as also brought out to advantage in Figure 3. This cover is provided with a suitable handle 2 I. It functions'not y as a closing lid, but .also as a windshield,

since it is possible to 'manuever the truck 6 into a position beneath the fuel tank (not shown) of the airplane to shield off. the wind on windy and Y inclement days.

I call attention now to the internal anti-splash and battle means 22. This comprises a "screen mounted in a rectangular frame, the frame restscreen is provided with a suitable handling and hanger bracket 24, it being desirable to remove said screen for drying and cleaning, as is obvious. It will be noted that the screen rests at its opposite left-hand end on the upper portion of the p The opposite end is supported in the bracket 23. The screen is inclined slightly and is ofa length less than the tank 5. It occupies a position directly beneath the inlet opening, that is, the opening covered by the lid 20.

Suitable fittings 25 having internal and ex'- ternal'clamping nuts 26 and 2'! and packing rings '28 serve to provide the discharge or outlet means.

A strainer 29 is on the inner end of said discharge. I

The

accommodate the hose 32 which hose leads to I the truck tank (not shown) or other'receiving and storage tank into which the gasoline is transferred for subsequent re-use.

As stated, this device Sand its transporting truck 6 provide a novel arrangement to do away with the present slow and primitive buck'et system. The tank 5, is shoved up underneath the discharge of the fuel tank on the airplane (notj shown) and the gasoline is allowed to gravitate,

in an obvious manner. I 1 windshield-as well as a cover. The whole tank R structure 5 sits removably in the truck structure 1' 6. The screen 22 serves as an anti-splash unit'or' The lid 20 serves as a 1 device and the main inclined part 'I I. of the partitioning or insert unit serves as achute. The suction hose removes the'gasoline thus collected in I the tank 5 and transfers it tothe storagetank' on a truck in an obvious manner. r

A careful consideration of the foregoing de- 2. A portable airplane fuel draining and transferring device comprising a receiving and transporting tank and a wheel-supported base structure therefor, said tank being substantially rectangular and of comparatively great capacity and including a downwardly inclinedtop Wall adapted scription in conjunction withthe invention as 'il- 1 lustrated in the drawings will. enable the reader w to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and noveltysui I ficient to clarify the construction of the invenl tion'as hereinafter claimed. t

' 'Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual I practice'so long as no departure is made' from the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, a tank 1 including side walls and anin'tervening rear wall,

a front wall and a top wall, an inclined falsebottom connected with the front wall, said top wall terminating in spaced relation from gthe'rear Wall closing said opening;- a removable screen in said tank constituting ananti-splash device, discharge means mounted in the front wall, a strainer on said'me'ans, said strainer being located within the area of the tank, said disohargemeansbeing adapted to accommodate a suction 'hose in the manner and for the purposes described. I

and defining an intake'opening, a'hinged cover I point just above said pan.

to be shoved beneath the airplane fuel tank, said top having a comparatively large hole for quick drainage purposes, a lid hingedly mounted on thehigh end of the top for normally closing said hole, said lid being useful to assume a position resting against the fuel tank to serve as a wind shield, a strainer equipped discharge device at the lower portion of the front wallof the tank to accommodate a suction hose for withdrawing the collected fuel and transferring it to a suitable storage receptacle, and a slightly inclined, substantially horizontal screen on the interior of the tank directly beneath the top hole, this serving as an anti-splash device and facilitating smooth functioning of said device,

3;: In an airplane fuel tank emergency draining and transferring device, a low-slung frame with casters attached to and depending therefrom and constituting a truck, a large capacity tank re-, movably mounted on said truck, said tank being I substantially rectangular in. form, an insert in the bottom portion thereof comprising a partition, the major portion of said" partition forming a chute and inclining from the rear wall toward the front wall, the remainderthereof being substantially horizontal and constituting a fuel levelling ROBERT J. 

